Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate 60 dazzling years! What was your favorite memory of #Disneyland60? pic.twitter.com/Tn13m1sI3R
— Disneyland Resort (@Disneyland) September 5, 2016
No one seems to be mourning the demise of the World of Color show. Most fans we've heard are looking forward to the return of the latest version of the original show, in fact. And Paint the Night will be returning to Disneyland later this year, before taking another hiatus in advance of its expected return by next summer. (Sorry, Disney World fans. We're just not hearing any chatter that the next-generation electrical parade will be coming your way.)
So the big loss, for many Disneyland fans, seems to be Disneyland Forever, the fireworks show that brought Main Street, the castle, the Matterhorn and more to animated life with delightful projections.
The finale of next to last Disneyland Forever. ?? pic.twitter.com/4wbH32NptF
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) September 5, 2016
I wasn't able to make it to the park today, but I did catch the next-to-last performance from the top floor of the Disneyland Hotel last night. Disneyland will be getting the old Fantasy in the Sky show back on a limited basis, but that old show just doesn't pack the power or the spectacle of Disneyland Forever. Here's hoping that by the time the park complete more of the Star Wars Land construction on the north side of the property, it will be able to support the launch of more advanced pyro shows, allowing Disneyland fans to enjoy something on the caliber of Disneyland Forever again and again.
In the meantime, take a look back at our coverage of the #Disneyland60 Diamond Celebration.
Here's to the future of theme parks! Where ever they are!
Do you have information on what will happen at WDW's MK? Will there just be no nighttime parade anymore?
Regarding Main Street Electrical Parade, everything I've heard seems to point toward this upcoming run being the final run of the parade, and that there are no plans to send it back to Magic Kingdom. The parade units are over 40 years old and there is only so much life left in them. The real question is, "how long will the run be?" Reportedly guest satisfaction surveys will be used to determine that, and depending on reception it could wind up running as Disneyland's off-season parade for several years while the more expensive Paint the Night plays during peak season. If it doesn't connect with audiences, however, 2017 may be the final year. As for Magic Kingdom, work has supposedly begun on a new nighttime parade exclusive to that park, but it won't be ready in time for 2017 (besides, the focus will be on Animal Kingdom next year).
AJ is right though, even when a show is spectacular, how many times do you need to see it ? Nothing really compares to the first time (unless you get a better viewing area that makes a huge difference).
So for me (a big DL fan, but infrequent visitor) it's not necessarily the losses that bother me, but the replacement with sub-par shows (like MSEP) that hold back reason to make the more expensive cross country trip. I've been to DL only twice (both multi day visits) and have yet to see DL's version of Fantasmic!, due to it being the offseason. That annoys me the most, that offseason visitors get jipped on things that that, which really could have been the highlight of their trip. They should be rewarded for their patronage during that period, and it's not like Disney can't afford to put on those shows every night...
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